People who sit for extended periods are more likely to die early than those who spend less time sitting. It raises the risk by 40 percent in women and 20 percent in men, a study has found.Sitting down for extended periods increases the risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression and obesity, according to American Cancer Society researchers who looked at 123,000 people’s health over 14 years.The finding, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, puts sitting down for extended periods of time in the same bracket as smoking, Daily Mail reported quoting the study Saturday.Diabetes experts point out that sitting is not bad for us in moderation but can be addictive and harmful in the long-run.The American Cancer Society is concerned that public health guidelines do not say enough about time spent sitting down.Government exercise recommendations suggest at least 30 minutes on five days per week of ‘moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity’.They also say 20 minutes of ‘vigorous-intensity’ activity for at least 20 minutes on three days per week would produce similar benefits, according to the Mail. The human body simply isn’t built to sit all day at a desk or for hours vegging out on the couch. Many of us spend more time sitting than sleeping. To avoid the health risks, we need not just 30 minutes of daily exercise, the infographic advises, but taking every opportunity to get up during the day.